Britain’s Parliament is one of the oldest democracies in the world and is composed of two houses, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, both of which have their own high traditions and procedures. This article will explain the basic workings of the British Parliament, from the roles of its key players to the process of how a bill becomes law.

The House of Commons  

The House of Commons is one of the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It represents the electorate and is composed of 650 members, known as ‘Members of Parliament’ (MPs), who are all elected. The MPs, who generally sit on the Government’s benches, are responsible for proposing, debating, and voting on legislation and making decisions on matters of finance.

The House of Lords  

The House of Lords is the upper pool of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is composed of various hereditary, appointed, and life peers. Unlike the House of Commons, the members of the House of Lords do not represent constituents and their session ends when a Parliament is dissolved. The Lords are involved in a variety of proceedings, including discussing, voting on and making amendments to bills from the House of Commons.

Roles of Key Figures  

Prime Minister

The Prime Minister is the head of the Government, and is the leader of the party that retains the majority in the House of Commons. They are responsible for appointing the other members of their cabinet, select, and lead Government policy.

Speaker of the House

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer in the House of Commons. They are elected by their peers and are responsible for upholding the highest standards of conduct and decorum amongst the members of the House. They are also responsible for making sure that debates are conducted in an orderly manner.

Lord Speaker

The Lord Speaker is the presiding officer in the House of Lords. They are appointed by the Crown and are responsible for preserving the high standards of conduct amongst members of the House. As with the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Speaker is responsible for ensuring that debates are conducted in an orderly manner.

House of Commons Clerk

The House of Commons Clerk is the officer responsible for managing the daily business of the House. This includes advising members of the House on procedure and the interpretation of rules, bills, and other legislative documents.

House of Lords Clerk

The House of Lords Clerk is the officer responsible for managing the daily business of the House of Lords. As with the House of Commons Clerk, they are responsible for advising members of the House on procedure as well as the interpretation of bills and other legislative documents.

How a Bill Becomes Law  

When a Member of Parliament introduces a bill, it goes through a series of stages in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords before it can become law.

  1. Public Bill

This is a new bill that is normally introduced by the Government. It is then referred to a select committee which studies and amends the bill before reporting it back to Parliament.

  1. First Reading

The bill is first formally presented in either house for the first time by its sponsors.

  1. Second Reading

The bill is now debated as a whole by all its members and voting usually takes place at the end of this stage.

  1. Committee Stage

The bill is now discussed clause by clause in detail and further amendments may be inserted.

  1. Report Stage

The bill is now debated for a second time and more detailed consideration of the bill can take place.

  1. Third Reading

This is the final stage in the House of Commons. The bill is debated as a whole, voting usually takes place and if the bill passes it then moves on to the House of Lords.

  1. House of Lords

The bill is then debated and voted upon in the House of Lords and any amendments that have been added may be removed and replaced.

  1. Royal Assent

The bill is then sent to the Queen who, acting on advice from the Prime Minister, will either give Royal Assent and make the bill an act of Parliament, or reject it.

The British Parliament is a centuries-old democracy and its procedural traditions reflect its rich history. This article has explained the main components of the British Parliament and how the process of passing a bill through the Houses works. Whether you are a seasoned political aficionado or simply curious about the workings of the British Parliament, this guide should have provided you with a better understanding of the institution.